Half to john shatter



(No'Model.)

C. W. KERLER.

LATCH.

PatentedApr. 23, 1895.

Witnesses:

Attorney.

sys

INTTED STATES I CHARLES W. KERLER, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN SHAUER, OF SAME PLACE. Y

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part lof Letters Patent No. 588,078, dated April 23, 1895 I Application led February 27, 1895. Serial No. 539,909. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. KERLER, a

lcitizen of the United States, residing at Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State ofv Kansas, have invented a new and useful Latch, of which the following is-a specification.

. My invention relates to an improved latch for use on door s, gates, or the like, and it has for its object to produce a latch that will be automatic in both latching and unlatching, very simple in construction, and thoroughly effective in operation.

The invention will rst be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then pointed out in the claims. f

Figure 1 ofthe drawings is a perspective View of my improved latch in place, showing only so much of the door and jamb as is necessary to illustrate the attachment and operation of the latch. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line x Fig. 1. Fig. 3 i-s a perspective view of the base-plate. Figt is a view in elevation of the latch-casing. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the latch-casing. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the catch.

Referring to the drawings, A is a right-angular base-plate set in the door B and secured thereto by screws 1 as seen in Fig. 1. In this plate slightly below the center is formed a slot 2, a corresponding groove 3 being cut in the door directly beneath the slot 2, permitting the necessary movement of the latch` arms, hereinafter described. In vertical alignment, one on either side of the slot 2, are two outwardly-extending lugs 4, having holes 5 therein, for supporting the operating mechanism.Y On the lower lug et are formed two toothed projections 6, in horizontal alignment in a line at a right angle to the baseplate A, as shown in Fig. 3, for a purpose hereinafter described.

C represents the latch-casing, comprisinga body-portion 7, adapted to fit in a collar 8 so as to be capable of vertical movement therein, this body-portion and collar being closed at the lower and upper ends respectively with the exception of a small central hole 9, through which passes a pinlO, securing the parts together. Encircling this pin, and bearing at position.

one end against the top of the collar and at the other end against the lower end of the body-portion, is a coil spring 11, serving to normally keep the body-portion in proper position.

D represents the catch, through the central portion of which there is a small hole 12 for the passage of the pin 10, this central portion being also provided with a plurality of radial arms 13, thus forming the catch preferably in the form of a Maltese cross, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. On the lower side of the central portion are four toothed-projections 14, corresponding in size and shape to the toothed projections 6 on lug 4,'these teeth being so arranged that when in position they will lie normally one on either side ot the teeth 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

E is the keeper, comprising a metal plate having a central opening 15, this plate being secured to the door-jamb, as shown, by screws 16.

Y The parts being assembled as shown and above described, the operation of my latch is as follows: When the door having my improved latch is closed, one of the arms 13 comes into contact with the outer edge of the keeper E, which forces the teeth 14 up the inclined teeth 6 until they pass over them and ride down the other side, this movement forcing the body-portion 7 upward into the collar 8 against the stress of coil spring 11, this spring,

when the teeth 14 have ridden over the teeth j 6, returning the body-portion to its normal As these teeth 14 ride over the teeth 6 the arm 13 next the one engaging the outer edge of the keeper is turned into the opening 15 in the keeper, thus latching the door. When desired to unlatch the door pressure on it will act to reverse the operation of the parts when closing, the arm 13 will be turned out of the opening 15 andthe door can be opened.

Having thus described my invention, whatl I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. ln a latch, a base-plate adapted to be secured to the door, lugs in vertical alignment on the base-plate, one of said lugs being pro-v vided With toothed-projections, a catch hav- IOO ing toothed-projections adapted to coact with the toothed-projections on the lug, a pin passingY through the lugs and catch, a keeper secured to the door-jamb, and spring mechan- 5 ism carried by the base-plate permitting the toothed-projections on the latch to override the toothed-projections on the lug in either direction.

2. In a latch, a base-plate adapted to be se- Io cured to the door, lugs in vertical alignment on the base-plate, one of said lugs being provided with toothed-projections, a catch having toothed-projections adapted to coact with the toothed-projections on the lug, a pin passing through the lugs and catch, a body-portion mounted on the pin and bearing on the catch, a collar on the pin permitting vertical movementof the body-portion, a keeper secured to the door-jamb, and a spring carried bythe bodyportion and collar for operating the catch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. KERLER.

Witnesses:

ALF GERCKEN, AUG. KASTEN. 

